Lottery tickets can be a fun gift or stocking stuffer for adults. But, since this is the season of giving, help us remind all players that they are not appropriate gifts for teens or children. Just as you wouldn’t put an underage person behind the wheel of a car you shouldn’t give someone under 18 a lottery ticket.
That’s why each holiday season we join a campaign sponsored by the National Council on Problem Gambling and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University to discourage lottery tickets as gifts for minors. Raising awareness is important because research shows some problem gamblers report beginning gambling during childhood – as early as 9-10 years of age.
Our efforts to prevent underage play of lottery tickets go on year-round. We print a reminder of the restriction on lottery sales to minors on every lottery ticket sold and on advertising and marketing materials. The bold “You Must Be 18 Years Of Age To Play” reminder goes on the top of the back of instant tickets. We train lottery retailers to check IDs before selling lottery tickets and join state law enforcement agencies in enforcing the no sales to a minor law.
Finally, about $1 million in lottery revenues go each year to support the N.C. Problem Gambling Program. The program provides free treatment to anyone who develops a gambling problem and provides an evidence-based gambling prevention program to middle school and high school students in the state. For further information on the N.C. Problem Gambling Program, call the helpline at 1-877-718-5543 or visit www.morethanagamenc.com.
Best wishes to everyone this holiday season.
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